Bellamine for hot flashes: An effective nonhormonal treatment?

Bellamine for hot flashes: An effective nonhormonal treatment?

Question

My gynecologist just prescribed Bellamine to relieve my hot flashes. What can you tell me about the ingredients in this medication? Is it effective?

Jan

Mississippi

Answer

Bellamine is a prescription medication that is used to treat symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. It is a combination of:

Belladonna, an herb with antispasmodic properties

Ergotamine, a medication that narrows blood vessels (vasoconstrictor)

Phenobarbital, a barbiturate that reduces brain and nervous system activity

In two small clinical trials, the combination of belladonna, ergotamine and phenobarbital was found to be slightly more effective than a placebo in relieving hot flashes. But larger clinical trials are needed to support these initial findings.

Bellamine isn't usually recommended as a first-line drug to treat hot flashes because of its potential side effects, which can include sedation. For this reason, other medications — such as estrogens, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, gabapentin or clonidine — are often tried first before Bellamine.